We can help you turn your “waste” into value
Tours and Workshops
Executive learning sessions and group tours are offered both virtually and in-person at our facilities across the country. We offer both virtual and in-person options for 1-20+ people.
Several of our locations allow visitors to view the recycling process in action. Our Brooklyn facility – showcasing the largest recycling facility in the country – is home to an interactive recycling museum and viewing deck for community groups, schools, government officials and the business community.
We partner with Closed Loop Partners’ Center for the Circular Economy to offer half day immersive circularity workshops, enabling corporate teams to go deeper on topics related to circularity, climate and sustainability. From material science to circular business models, our diverse curriculum caters to learners of all levels, empowering you to become a catalyst for a more circular future.
Workshop Modules
The following modules can be selected and tailored to meet your needs in our half day workshop:
- Packaging Design Analysis: Evaluate up to 5 product packages, exploring their recyclability and flow through the recycling process. Gain insights into designing for sustainability.
- Circular Economy 101: Introduction to core principles of circular economy, covering key concepts and real-world applications for a circular future.
- Reuse Strategies: Explore innovative reuse models and systems, learning how to extend product lifecycles and reduce waste through smart design and consumer engagement.
- Molecular Recycling: Discover the potential of technologies that break down plastics into building blocks, opening new possibilities for hard-to-recycle materials such as films and flexibles.
- Compostables Explained: Understand the science, benefits and challenges of compostable materials, including their role in waste reduction and soil health.
Zero Waste Planning
We help municipalities, businesses and communities create and achieve their zero waste goals, incorporating recycling programs into their overall sustainability plans.
A sample of questions we can help answer:
- How can recycling help me achieve my organization’s zero waste and climate goals?
- How should we design recycling and other circularity programs to maximize participation, minimize costs and improve environmental outcomes?
- What about reuse, repair and reduction? How do these initiatives fit within a broader recycling program?
- How do I calculate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions benefits associated with my organization’s recycling program?
Waste Assessments, Materials Audits & Materials Testing
We conduct on-site assessments of your waste streams to provide detailed recommendations for improving landfill diversion and waste economics. We also provide controlled and real-world testing for major brands and packaging designers, determining product performance and recyclability in a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).
What are waste assessments and material audits?
Audits are performed on a regular basis to meet a variety of informational needs.
For commercial and multi-family properties, audits are performed to better understand the property’s typical solid waste materials composition. This is used to help identify opportunities for greater recycling and food waste handling, including property-specific design, process flow and training recommendations.
For MRF inbound materials, audits are performed to value materials, provide feedback to suppliers, and adjust sorting procedures and equipment.
How are they conducted?
Materials audits are typically conducted on-location. Solid waste materials are collected and sorted into marketable categories, including recyclables, compostables and residuals.
Data analysis on materials composition and quality is used to provide detailed recommendations for improving landfill diversion and waste economics.
Why test materials?
Determining recyclability of a package or packaging attribute requires testing. We offer a real-world scenario, testing the ability of packaging to sort in traditional materials recovery facilities. Learn if your package will successfully flow through a MRF and travel to the next steps in the recycling process.
How are materials tested for recyclability?
Our tests are designed to meet the Association of Plastics Recyclers (APR) test standards or can be tailored to address specific customer questions. Common testing questions include sizing, optical recognition and 2D vs. 3D behavior.
We work closely with your team to understand the questions to be answered (e.g., how would this package be treated by optical sorters, AI and robots?) and design “tests” through our MRF equipment to demonstrate real-world outcomes.
Deliverables are tailored to test objectives, such as recovery reports and MRF output samples.